Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Maya grabbed my wrist. “Adrian, stop. You don’t know what he’s thinking. Maybe something came up—”
“And he couldn’t throw an explanation over his shoulder on the way out?” I laughed, but it came out hollow. “Classic Maddox Sullivan. The moment things get complicated, he freaks out and starts building his walls as high and as thick as he can.”
Maya’s face dropped because she knew I was right.
I tried texting him.
We need to talk. The job offer isn’t what you think.
Please call me back.
Maddox. Please. Just give me five minutes.
After a minute, I finally got a response.
Maddox
Meet me at the Starlight Spectacular tonight at 7pm.
I stared at the phone, trying to decide if I felt relief or dread.
Are you mad at me?
Maddox
Furious. And annoyed. Disappointed. And hurt.
My hands shook as I started to type another message, but I couldn’t go through with it. I was too scared to push him over text and risk him changing his mind about meeting me.
I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t tell you. I said no. I hope you saw that. You don’t need to respond. Just… I’ll see you tonight.
When I looked up, Maya was still looking at me with a pitiful expression on her face. I pulled her into a side hug.
“He’s going to meet me at the ski thing tonight.”
Her face softened in relief. “Good. Then you can clear the air.”
I didn’t mention that if he’d truly wanted to talk things through, he would have chosen a less public venue. It was never a good sign when a man you were dating wanted to have The Talk in a public place.
I kept that thought to myself.
“I should go find him,” I said instead. “It’s silly to wait until tonight if he’s out there right now, hurt and thinking the worst. Right?”
Before Maya could respond, the bell jingled, and Mrs. Hoffman bustled in, shaking snow from her coat. Her usually bright demeanor seemed forced, almost frantic.
“Adrian! Just the man I came to see! I need a huge favor.”
I blinked at her. “What kind of favor?”
“Emergency, ah… catering situation. The Hendersons were supposed to provide desserts for the rec center’s holiday potluck tonight, but their oven just died.” Mrs. Hoffman clasped her hands together in supplication. “I know it’s last minute, but could you help me run some supplies over to Avery? She’s agreed to whip something up at her place, but I need someone with a car to transport everything since she said the baby is down for a nap and her wife is caught up on a work call.”
“Actually, I’m a little busy. I was going to—” I began.
“Please?” Mrs. Hoffman begged.
I sighed. “I… sure, I guess.” It was probably good to give Maddox a chance to cool off before we talked. “What do you need me to do?”
“Just drive me to pick up ingredients, then help carry everything to Hazel and Avery’s place. Should only take an hour.” She and Maya exchanged a look. “Or possibly two. Depending.”
Maya nodded encouragingly. “Go ahead. I’ll find Maddox and see where his head is.”
The next few hours passed in a blur of grocery runs and kitchen prep. Halfway through our first grocery shop, Mrs. Hoffman remembered an important appointment of her own, so she left me with an extensive list.
And when I got to Avery and Hazel’s place, it wasn’t the quick drop-off I’d been promised. They drew me into the kitchen, sat me down with a cup of coffee, and chatted about their baby’s first Christmas and various bits of town gossip for another hour. It felt rude to leave when Hazel kept getting work calls and Avery needed someone to keep an eye on the oven timer while she checked on the baby.
Every few minutes, I’d pull out my phone to see if there were any messages from Maddox or Maya.
Nothing.
“You’re going to join us at the lodge for Christmas, right?” Hazel smiled as I eventually helped her arrange cookies on decorative platters. “Tommy said he passed along the invitation, and we’d love to have you.”
“I, ah…” I tried to figure out how to tell her I wasn’t sure of much of anything right now, especially how long I would be staying in Legacy. “I’d like to, but I don’t know.”
Hazel’s smile dimmed. “This have something to do with your grumpy videographer?”
Before I could answer, her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, then suddenly straightened. “Oh! Dang. I just remembered Avery and I promised to help Rosie with something at the ranch. Right this very minute. No time to lose. Adrian, is there any chance you can deliver the cookies to the rec center for us? I can text the Hendersons to meet you there.”
“Oh. Well, I—”
Avery looked at her wife like she’d grown a second head. “But Hazel, we—”
“Thanks so much!” Hazel was already grabbing her coat and Avery’s and shoving a blanket over the baby on Avery’s shoulder. “You’re a lifesaver!”